Electroplating apparatus



ELECTROPLATING APPAR'Au's.

APPLICATION FILED FVEB. I8. 1919.

1,349,549. PatentedAug-10,1920.

W. IETZEL.

vlauacTRoPLAnN APPARATUS.

APPLICATlON FILED FEB-'18, 1919. 1,349,549. Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 /N VENTOI? A TTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM DIETZEL, 0F MERRICK, NEW YORK.

ELECTROPLATIN G APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 10, 1920,

Application filed February 18, 1919. Serial No. 277,787.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM DIETZEL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Merrick, in the county of Nassau and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Electroplating Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description.

This invention relates to electro-plating and has for an object the provision of an improved plating barrel whereby the operation is reduced to a minimum and the time required is also reduced `to a minimum.

Another obj ect in view is the provision of an improved barrel for plating which may be charged from a number of different points without the adjustment of any parts and may be discharged by merely a reverse rotation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plating barrel with a plurality of removable platforms, which when in place act as contact members for the material being plated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a plating barrel in which the structure is such that the plating solution will be scooped up on one side as the barrel rotates and discharged on the opposite side, whereby the thickest and best solution is continually being supplied to the interior of the barrel so as to hasten the plating operation.

In the accompanying drawin s:

Figure 1 is a top plan view o an electroplating apparatus disclosing an embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through Fig. 3 on line 2-2 Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through Fig. 1 on line 3-8, the same being on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, thesame being on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the platformsand associate parts embodying certain features of the invention.

Referringto the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates an ordinary tank of any kind, as for instance a tank made from wood and supported by suitable legs 2. Arranged in this tank is a solution 3 of any kind, as for instance nickel, silver, or copper, according to the plating desired.

For instance, if the solution is a copper solution the various anodesllhave one end resting on a suitable support 5 and the opposite end formed with any desired number of hooks 5, which are hooked over a supporting bar 7 which bar is connected to one side of a source of current. The opposite side of said source of current is connected to bar 8, which bar is connected to a bearing box 9, which box is preferably of metal and therefore makes a good contact with the axle or shaft 10. It is, of course, evident that any suitable means may be provided for connecting the source of electricity to the shaft 10. In this way the current is supplied to the solution and to the articles to be plated, said articles be ing arranged in a barrel 11 which is commonly known as a plating barrel. This barrel tumbles the articles as it slowly rotates so that the plating is hastened and more uniform. i

This barrel is constructed as shown particularly in Fig. 3 so that there are a number of openings 12 which may be used as discharge openings and as loading openings without molesting any part of the machine. In addition these openings and the parts associated therewith act as forms of scooping means which will scoop up the solution 3 adjacent the anodes 4t whereby this solution will enter in at one side` of the barrel and discharge at the opposite side. This is very important because the anodes 4 maintain the solution 3 in their vicinity more saturated with the metal than at distant points, and this saturated solution is scooped into the barrel and thereby causes the electric current to produce a quicker deposit.

The shaft l() has interior hub members 13 and 14 connected therewith to which a plurality of radiating rods 15 are secured, said rods being also secured to metal plates 16 resting on various platforms 17. Each of the platform 17 provided with a large baille 18 on the rear face and a small baille 19 on thefront face, an arc-shaped end 20 at the outer end, said arc-shaped end Inerging into an outside baiile or stop 2l.. All of these members and baffles are connected together for forming one structure, and in addition' cams 22 and 23 are connected to the outer end of the platform 17, and to the end member 20. The cams 22 and 23 have apertures provided therein through which suitable retaining screws are passed so that they maybe rigidly secured to the ends 24 and 25 of the barrel 11. ln fact the end members 2O act in a certain sense as the peripheral surface of the barrel while the projecting end portion 26 of each platform assists in holding the cams 22 and 23 in place and also presents a guiding projection for guiding material from the barrel during the discharging operation, whereby vthe plated material may pass on to the discharge chute 27 land from thence to any desirable receptacle. This chute is in continuous vcontact with the barrel 11,y but is moved by `the cams 22 and 23 out of the way ofthe projecting portions 26 of the various platforms 17.

The chute 27 is provided with bars 28 and 29 (Fig. 4) which have projecting portions extending into the grooved members 3() and 31, which -grooved members form part of brackets'32 and 33 pivotally mounted on the rodrt. The rod 3% is lsupported by any suitable casing or bracket 35 which also contains a weight 3G connected to cables 37and 38 which pass over pulleys 39 and t0 to the outer end of the chute 27 to which vthey are secured as shown in Fig. 3Q By this construction and arrangement the weight 3G urges the chute 27 toward the barrel 11 while the pivotal 'mounting of brackets 32 and 38 will allow a free pivotal swinging action (of the chute when moving in a direction opposite to the'arrow ill shown in Fig. 3.

In operation, when the barrel 1 is empty and Vit is desired to load the same various articles arepassedthrough any of the upper openings 12 on the opposite side to the chute 27 whereby the article may freely pass to the lower p art of the barrel under the action lof gravity. After a proper supply has been vprovided the electric current is turned on andthe barrel is started to rotate in the 1direction of arrow 41. lThis rotation is maintained until the desired plating has been'secur'ed. After the desired plating is secured the current is left on or turned off as desired, but the vbarrel 11 is reversed so as to move ina direction opposite to that indicated'by arrow 41. This will cause the various articles to slide Vdownwardlv from the various plates 16 on to the batiles 19 and from thence on to the various sections 2O and thence lto the endA baille 21, after which they pass out from the rear face of the platform 17'to the 'chute 27. In this wry the barrel may be quickly loaded or charged and quickly discharged.

' Incase it is desired to examine or repair theinterior of the barrel the screws or other fasteningy means 17 are removed and two setsof cams 22 and 23 and either one or two sets of 4platforms 17 and associate parts removed after which free access may be secured to the interior of the barrel. If desired a door 42 may be arranged in one or both ends of the barrel and held in place in any desired manner. door of this hind would facilitate the securing of the ends of the rods 15 to the hubs 13 and 1st and also :facilitate any slight examination ot the interior of the barrel. it will be understood` of course, that the ends of the barrel and the members 17 and 'associate parts except the plate 16 may be made from wood or other material without departing` from the spirit of the invention.y plate 1t', and rod 15 connected therewith are made vfrom metal in order to conduct the electric current to the articles to be plated so as to cause a proper deposit of t-he metal from the solution 3.

lllhat l claim is:

1. An electro-plating apparatus comprising a vat, an amuleextending into said vat. a rotatable barrel arranged to have a part thereof extending into the vat so that the solution in the vat will enter Ithe barrel` said barrel being formed with independent peripheral sections spaced apart l'or their full length for presenting openings uninterruptedly for the full length of the barrel through which some of said liquid will be scooped up and an equal amount discharged from the opposite side as the barrel is rotated whereby the solution rich in metals is brought into contact with the articles in the barrel` means for preventing articles in the barrel from falling out through said openings as the barrel rotates. and means connecting a source of current to said anode and to the contact members interiorly ol' the barrel.

2. An electro-plating apparatusl comprising a tank containing a plating solution` a barrel rotatably mounted in said tank. means for supplying current to the interior of the barrel, an anode extending into said solution near the barrel. a pluralit)v ot cams arranged on said barrel` a discharge chute engaging said barrel continually and moved b v said cams `so as not to interfere with the proper operation of the barrel. and means for yieldingly holding lsaid chute in a proper position.

3. An electro-plating apparatus ot the character described comprising a tank v'or containing a plating solution` an anode arranged in said tank` a barrel positioned so that part of the same will e.\;tend into said tank7 said barrel having a plurality ol'Y openings through which the matter to he plated is inserted and discharged. means 'lor supplying current to the interior of the harrel and to said anode` a chute continually engaging said barrel so as to receive matter from the barrel when the same is discharging through said openings` a sliding support for said chute. a weight,y a cable acting on said chute for maintaining the same in till contact with the barrel, and a pivotal sup port for the chute for allowing the chute to swingl back and forth and reciprocate.

t. A plating apparatus of the character described comprising a tank containing a plating solution, an anode extending into said tanli, a barrel rotatably mounted on the tanli so that part will be submerged. in the solution in the tank, means for supplying current to said anode and to the interior of said barrel, said barrel having a plurality of discharge openings, and projections at each discharge opening extending beyond the pe riphery of the barrel, a cam arranged adjacent each of said projections, a chute ai ranged on the barrel and slidingly mounted on the pivotal support, and means urging said chute toward the barrel whereby as the plated material is being discharged it will pass directly on to the chute.

5. An electro-plating apparatus of the character described, comprising a tank for containing a plating solution, an anode eX- tending into said tank, a rotatable barrel positioned so as to extend into the solution in the tanl-z, said barrel having a plurality of platforms extending tangentially from the periphery of the barrel inwardly, the end of the respective platforms being spaced from the nent adjacent platform whereby there will be provided openings which act in the double capacity of loading openings and discharge openings according to the direction of rotation of the barrel, a plurality of lniflles for preventing the discharge of the articles to be plated arranger-l in the barrel when rotated in one direction, and metallic members extending to said platforms for conveying current thereto when the barrel in operation, and means for supjilyinir; currcnt to said metallic members and to said anode.

6. ln an electro-plating apparatus of the cha "actor described, a barrel comprising a pair of end members, a plurality of spaced units connecting the end members, each of said units being formed with a platform, a baille on the back of the platform, and a pair of baffles near the opposite end of the first mentioned baille, a metal plate arranged on each of said platforms, means for pivotally supportii'ig said barrel, and means for connecting a source of current to said platforms.

7. In a plating apparatus of the character described, a rotatable jjilating barrel formed with a pair of ends and a plurality' of identically constructed shelf members, said shelf members when connected with the barrel forming the periphery of the barrel and the supporting platforms for `the articles to be plated, the respective shelf members being spaced apart when connected with the barrel so as to provideopenings through which the plating solution may pass, each of said shelf members comprising a platform, an arc-shaped member extending substantially at right angles to the platform, a baille member arranged on the rear face of the platform near the center, a second baffle member arranged on the opposite face of said platform, and a third baille member whereby articles in the barrel cannot fall out of the barrel through said openings while passing through the plating solution arranged `at the end of said arc-shaped member, a metal contact member for each of said platforms, and'means for conducting electricity to` each of said metal contacting members.

8. An electro-plating apparatus compris ing a tank containing a solution, a rotatable barrel positioned so that part of the same will be submerged in said solution, said barrel having a plurality of openings and a platform for each opening, means for supplying current to the articles within the bar rel, anode extending into said solution, means for supplying current to the anode, a chute movable toward and from the barrel, and cams acting on the chute for preventing any sections ofthe barrel from moving the chute out of its correct position for receiving articles from said openings when the' barrel is discharging.

9. Il plating apparatus comprising a tank for receiving a plating solution, an anode ar 'anged insaid tank, and a plating barrel positioned so that part of the same will project into the tank, said barrel being provided with a plurality of openings extend ing uninterrup'tedly for the full length of the barrel, a platform arranged adjacent each opening, and a plurality of baille members associated with each of the platforms for preventing articles in the barrel falling out through said openings while passing through said solution, said openings, platforms and ballles coacting to cause the openings to act as supply openings when loading the barrel and as discharge openings when rotating the barrel in a certain direction.

VILLIAM DIETZEL. 

